Welfare Drug Testing

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Pages: 6

Poverty has always been a devastating issue for the United States of America, but struck Americans so severe during the Great Depression. Programs were put into effect during this time to assist those dealing with poverty and did just that. In the future decades, since the Depression, more and more different types of welfare have been put in place to help those in need. Drugs are becoming a bigger and bigger problem in America. The rise of those abusing drugs establishes a need to monitor those abusing the system. To drug test welfare recipients, prevents drug abusers from taking advantage of the system, taking benefits from those in need, and if willing will allow them to receive the help they need to live a sober life. Long before the …show more content…
According to The Debate Club, US News, welfare assistance is to temporarily help those in need not to be treated as a lifelong entitlement. The need to drug test applicants is not to shame anyone but to grant them the help they so desperately need. If they fail a drug test they will be denied benefits, offered aid and after being rehabilitated will be allowed government assistance. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reported in 2007 that approximately 20 percent of TANF recipients reported having used an illicit drug at least once in the past year, and at least 5 percent admitted to having a substance addiction. The hopes are to provide the means to help those who are truly needy not those who are abusing drugs. Also, the amount of taxpayer’s money that is devoted to welfare is a staggering $900 billion on 70 different welfare programs. In Florida alone, the welfare enrollment has been reduced by almost 48 percent since drug testing has been required. Imagine the amount of money being saved on those that are not truly in need and instead helping the family whose father has just been laid off his job and desire a stepping stone to help him get back on his feet or the single mother struggling to feed her children after her husband …show more content…
Many jobs require drug testing before being employed or do random tests to keep employment, those who are responsible Americans comply to those tests and do not expect to keep their job while abusing drugs. Why would we not drug test those using our tax dollars to live on? It is only fair to enforce the same rules on those that are being responsible citizens. Americans that are not addicted to drugs and just use as a recreational past time will surely not abuse drugs knowing they would be denied benefits they need. This would help keep money out of the drug dealers’ pockets and possibly save American lives from becoming